Fluted wing auger

ABSTRACT

An auger has a substantially conical core, which has an axis and a side centered thereabout. From a substantially flat, substantially circular base of the core at a trailing end of the core, the side tapers to form a diameter smaller than that of the base and on the axis at a leading end of the core. The auger includes a shank centered about the axis and fixed to the base for connecting the auger to a collar and includes at least two wings fixed to the core. The base of the core is perpendicular to the axis and is substantially circular. The wings extend radially from the base and along the tapered side of the core to at least the leading end of the core, wherein the wings are configured such that they wind at least partly around the core axis on the tapered side of the core.

The present invention relates to augers, sometimes referred to as drillbits. An auger is a drilling device that typically includes a helicalblade for conveying cuttings upwards out of a bore hole due to rotationabout a longitudinal axis of the auger.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the invention, an auger includes asubstantially conical core having an axis and a side centered about theaxis. From a substantially flat, substantially circular base of the coreat a trailing end of the core, the side tapers to form a diametersmaller than that of the base and centered on the axis at a leading endof the core. A shank is centered about the axis and fixed to the basefor connecting the auger to a collar. At least two wings are fixed tothe core. The base of the core is perpendicular to the axis and iscircular, and the wings extend radially from the circular base and alongthe tapered side of the core to at least the leading end of the core.The wings are configured such that they wind at least partly around thecore axis on the tapered side of the core.

In a further aspect, each wing traverses one-quarter turn helicallyaround the core axis.

In another aspect, the at least two wings each project out radially fromthe core at substantially equal radial wing widths extending along atleast a portion of the tapered side of the core.

In a further aspect, the at least two wings are tapered in radial widthproximal to the leading end of the core, such that each wing forms aleading-end point for earth penetration distal to the core base.

In another aspect, the at least two wings extend longitudinally beyondthe tapered side and the leading end of the core.

In a further aspect, the at least two wings begin tapering in radialwidth where they extend longitudinally beyond the tapered side and theleading end of the core.

In another aspect, the leading end of the core and the points of the atleast two wings define a chevron shape.

In a further aspect, the smaller diameter is a vertex.

In another aspect, walls of the respective at least two wings haveengaging sides facing in a direction for rotation of the auger whendigging, wherein the engaging sides are cupped to provide flutes fordirecting matter cut away by the rotation to transfer cuttings upwardduring the rotation.

In a further aspect, the circular base has a diameter substantiallyequal to a diameter of a collar to which the auger connects forattaching the auger to a drill stem 26.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth inthe appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as apreferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, willbest be understood by reference to the following detailed description ofone or more illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 provides a view of an auger, according to embodiments of thepresent invention, from above a trailing end of the auger.

FIG. 2 provides a side profile view of the auger of FIG. 1, according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 provides a view of the auger of FIG. 1 from above the trailingend, once again, but with shading and annotations pointing out certainfeatures and proportions, according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 provides a view of the auger of FIG. 1 with shading and rotatedto a position for better visibility of certain additional features,according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 2, auger 1 is shown in side profile, whichillustrates a substantially cone-shaped, inner core 3 of the augerhaving a shank 27 fixed at cone axis 5 of core 3 to a substantially flatbase 24, which is perpendicular to axis 5 on trailing end 25 of core 3.In FIG. 2 it may also be seen that auger 1 has two fixed wings 9 and 15,which extend radially along the tapered side 4 of cone-shaped core 3 toan earth-penetrating, leading end 21 of core 3, which opposes thetrailing end 25. According to one or more embodiments of the presentinvention, auger 1 is a single casting, so that wings 9 and 15 areintegral with core 3. Leading end 21 of core 3 is a vertex of theconical shape of core 3, i.e., is pointed (or at least substantiallysmaller in diameter than that of base 24), wherein the point (ordiameter center) is located on axis 5, according to embodiments of thepresent invention. Likewise, the diameter of circular base 24 iscentered about axis 5. See also FIG. 1.

Referring now also to FIG. 1, which provides a trailing end 25 (alsoknown as “shank end”) view of auger 1 of FIG. 2 as viewed from above abore hole of approximately nine inches in overall diameter 40, accordingto embodiments of the present invention. It will be understood, ofcourse, that in actual practice auger 1 would be held in the bore holeby a collar 29 and drill stem 26, which are shown in dashed lines inFIG. 2, but not shown in FIG. 1, so that details of auger 1 may bebetter illustrated. In one or more embodiments of the present invention,base 24 is substantially circular and is six inches in diameter, exceptfor wings 9 and 15, where the circular diameter is centered on axis 5.Thus, base 24 matches a six inch outer diameter of a cylindrical bitcollar 29 (shown with dashed lines in FIG. 2) to which shank 27attaches, via a bolt 28 through a hole formed by shank 27, where thethrough-hole runs perpendicular to, and intersects, axis 5.

Particularly noting outer edge 10 and wing-core intersection 6 on theside of wing 9 that is visible in FIG. 2, it may be seen that wings 9and 15 wind around axis 5 on tapered side 4 of conical core 3. Morespecifically, according to one or more embodiments of the presentinvention, wings 9 and 15 form a conical helix around core 3 in such amanner that from the edge of base 24 on trailing end 25 to leading end21, wings 9 and 15 each traverse ninety degrees relative to thecircumference of base 24. That is, each wing 9 and 15 makes one-quarterturn helically around axis 5 of conical core 3.

According to embodiments of the present invention, wings 9 and 15 eachproject out radially relative to axis 5 at substantially equal widthsbeginning at trailing end 25, where the circular top of core 3 formsbase 24. In one or more embodiments, top 9T of wing 9 and top 15T ofwing 15 each project out one and one-half inches radially from base 24.Accordingly, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 the total cuttingdiameter of augur 1 is nine inches, including wings 9 and 15, since thediameter of base 24 is six inches, excluding wings 9 and 15, and sinceeach wing adds one and one-half inches radially. See overall diameter 40and base diameter 24 as shown in FIG. 1, which are nine inches and sixinches respectively for example.

As shown in FIG. 2, wings 9 and 15 continue axially from base 24 atsubstantially constant radial widths along tapered side 4 of conicalcore 3. In the illustrated embodiment, widths of wings 9 and 15 remainconstant until they reach the pointed, or substantially pointed, leadingend 21 of core 3, whereupon wings 9 and 15 extend longitudinally, i.e.,in the direction of axis 5, beyond side 4 and leading end 21 of core 3,and wings 9 and 15 themselves taper in radial width as they extendtherebeyond, such that wings 9 and 15 form respective points 18 and 20and such that leading end 21 and points 18 and 20 form a chevron. Thus,at leading end 21 of core 3, the diameter of auger 1 is only about 3inches, due entirely to the radial widths of wings 9 and 15, or at leastsubstantially entirely due thereto.

More specifically, as may be seen regarding wing 9 in FIG. 2, outer edge10 of wing 9, which is a cutting edge, tapers toward axis 5 beginning atleading end 21, whereas inner edge of wing 9, i.e., the axial projectionof core-wing intersection 6, tapers away from axis 5 to form a point 18at approximately the midpoint of the maximum 1½ inch width of wing 9.Wing 15 likewise tapers to form a point 20 in similar fashion, so thatin the orientation for digging depicted in FIG. 2, the point of core 3leading end 21, the points 18 and 20 of respective wings 9 and 15, andpenetrating end surfaces of wings 9 and 15 there between form a chevronshape. According to one or more embodiments of the present inventionwherein the cutting diameter of auger 1 is nine inches, the length ofauger 1 along axis 5 is also nine inches from the tips of points 18 and20 to base 24. According to one or more such embodiments of the presentinvention as described herein above, points 18 and 20 project 1½ inchbeyond leading end 21 of core 3.

Referring now also to FIG. 3, engaging sides 32 and 34 of respectivewings 9 and 15 face in the direction of rotation of auger 1 (clockwisewhen viewed from above trailing end 25 as in FIG. 3) and engage matterthat is cut away by rotation of external, cutting edges 10 and 16 ofwings 9 and 15, respectively. Engaging sides 32 and 34 are cupped, asshown, which provides respective flutes internal to wings 9 and 15 fordirecting matter cut away by rotation of the auger 1 to transfer upwardduring the rotation. That is, within the 1½ wing-width of each engagingside 32 and 34 that projects from core 3, each wing 9 and 15 forms arespective flute on the side of each wing 9 and 15 that faces thedirection of rotation and that initially engages the earth in a cuttingand transfer action, i.e., engaging sides 32 and 34. See, for exampleflute 36 of wing 9 engaging side 32 shown in FIG. 4. (Such a flute 36internal to wing 9 is not to be confused with a flute that could beformed between respective wings or between multiple turns of one wing ina different auger configuration.) More specifically, according to one ormore embodiments of the present invention, each flute, such as flute 36(FIG. 4), has a radius of one and one-half inches and traverses an arcof ninety degrees, such as shown for wing 9 engaging side 32 (FIG. 3),according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. Inclusionof flutes of this shape in transfer sides 32 and 34 of respective wings9 and 15, such as flute 36 shown, provide sharper cutting edges at theexternal edges of wings 9 and 15, such as edge 10 where engaging side 32of wing 9 meets side 11, for example. Also, the flutes, such as flute 36explicitly shown, produce better lift and transfer of excavated materialup the bore hole produced by rotation of augur 1. Also, angle A (asshown in FIG. 4) between engaging side 32 and side 11 of wing 9 is anacute angle, according to embodiments of the present invention. Theacute angle A reduces contact of side 11 of wing 9 and with matter ofthe side of the 9 inch diameter bore hole resulting from axial rotationand downward earth penetration of augur 1 as shown from above in FIG. 1and, hence, reduces rotational and transverse drag. The same applies forwing 15, which has the same configuration as wing 9. As previouslymentioned, wings 9 and 15 spiral in conical helix fashion on conicalcore 3, according to embodiments of the present invention, rather thanforming a circular helix on a cylindrical core. This feature ofembodiments of the present invention also tends to reduce rotational andlongitudinal drag.

For respective wings 9 and 15, walls opposing engaging sides 32 and 34are also cupped, according to embodiments of the present invention, sothat these back walls also form flutes internal to wings 9 and 15,respectively. The radius of each back wall flute is somewhat larger thanthe radius of each flute of the engaging sides 32 and 34, e.g., largerthan the radius of flute 36 in engaging side 32 of wing 9.

According to other embodiments of the present invention, the size ofauger 1 may vary, but certain proportions remain substantially fixed, inorder to maintain the same advantages described herein above regardlessof size. For example, according to one or more embodiments of thepresent invention, the diameter of base 24 may be smaller or larger, andthe wing-width, i.e., the distance by which wings 9 and 15 extendradially from core 3, is smaller or larger in the same 4 to 1proportion, so that if the diameter of base 24 is 4 inches instead ofsix inches, for example, the wing-width is 1 inch instead of 1½ inch.Likewise, the 1 to 1 proportion of the base 24 diameter to overall axial5 length of auger 1 remains the same. That is, the length from base 24to points 18 and 20 remains the same as base 24 diameter. Likewise, theradius of flutes in wings 9 and 15 remain fixed in 4 to 1 proportion tothe diameter of base 24.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify theinclusion of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. Further, no element described hereinis required for the practice of the invention unless expressly describedas essential or critical.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.

It should be appreciated that the particular implementations shown anddescribed herein are illustrative of the invention and its best mode andare not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the present inventionin any way. Other variations are within the scope of the followingclaims. Those skilled in the art having read this disclosure willrecognize that changes and modifications may be made to the embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

While this specification contains many specifics, these should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of the invention or of what can beclaimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particularimplementations of the invention. Certain features that are described inthis specification in the context of separate implementations can alsobe implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely,various features that are described in the context of a singleimplementation can also be implemented in multiple implementationsseparately or in any suitable sub combination. Moreover, althoughfeatures can be described above as acting in certain combinations andeven initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimedcombination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and theclaimed combination can be directed to a subcombination or variation ofa subcombination.

Benefits, advantages and solutions to problems have been described abovewith regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages,solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit,advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to beconstrued as critical, required, or essential features or elements ofany or all the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An auger comprising: a substantially conical corehaving an axis and a side centered about the axis, wherein from asubstantially flat, substantially circular base of the core at atrailing end of the core, the side tapers to form a diameter smallerthan that of the base and centered on the axis at a leading end of thecore; a shank centered about the axis and fixed to the base forconnecting the auger to a collar; at least two wings fixed to the core,wherein the base of the core is perpendicular to the axis and iscircular and the wings extend radially from the circular base and alongthe tapered side of the core to at least the leading end of the core,wherein the wings are configured such that they wind at least partlyaround the core axis on the tapered side of the core.
 2. The auger ofclaim 1, wherein each wing traverses one-quarter turn helically aroundthe core axis.
 3. The auger of claim 1, wherein the at least two wingseach project out radially from the core at substantially equal radialwing widths extending along at least a portion of the tapered side ofthe core.
 4. The auger of claim 1, wherein the at least two wings aretapered in radial width proximal to the leading end of the core, suchthat each wing forms a leading-end point for earth penetration distal tothe core base.
 5. The auger of claim 1, wherein the at least two wingsextend longitudinally beyond the tapered side and the leading end of thecore.
 6. The auger of claim 5, wherein the at least two wings begintapering in radial width where they extend longitudinally beyond thetapered side and the leading end of the core.
 7. The auger of claim 4,wherein the leading end of the core and the points of the at least twowings define a chevron shape.
 8. The auger of claim 1, wherein thesmaller diameter is a vertex.
 9. The auger of claim 1, wherein walls ofthe respective at least two wings have engaging sides facing in adirection for rotation of the auger when digging, wherein the engagingsides are cupped to provide flutes for directing matter cut away by therotation to transfer cuttings upward during the rotation.
 10. The augerof claim 1, wherein the circular base has a diameter substantially equalto a diameter of a collar to which the auger connects for attaching theauger to a drill stem.
 11. An auger comprising: a substantially conicalcore having an axis and a side centered about the axis, wherein from asubstantially flat, circular base of the core at a trailing end of thecore the side tapers to form a diameter smaller than that of the baseand centered on the axis at a leading end of the core; a shank centeredabout the axis and fixed to the base for connecting the auger to acollar; at least two wings fixed to the core, wherein the base of thecore is perpendicular to the axis and is circular and the wings extendradially from the circular base and along the tapered side of the coreto at least the leading end of the core, wherein the wings areconfigured such that they wind at least partly around the core axis onthe tapered side of the core.
 12. The auger of claim 11, wherein eachwing traverses one-quarter turn helically around the core axis.
 13. Theauger of claim 12, wherein the at least two wings each project outradially from the core at substantially equal radial wing widthsextending along at least a portion of the tapered side of the core. 14.The auger of claim 13, wherein the at least two wings are tapered inradial width proximal to the leading end of the core, such that eachwing forms a leading-end point for earth penetration distal to the corebase.
 15. The auger of claim 14, wherein the at least two wings extendlongitudinally beyond the tapered side and the leading end of the core.16. The auger of claim 15, wherein the at least two wings begin taperingin radial width where they extend longitudinally beyond the tapered sideand the leading end of the core.
 17. The auger of claim 16, wherein theleading end of the core and the points of the at least two wings definea chevron shape.
 18. The auger of claim 17, wherein walls of therespective at least two wings have engaging sides facing in a directionfor rotation of the auger when digging, wherein the engaging sides arecupped to provide flutes for directing matter cut away by the rotationto transfer cuttings upward during the rotation.
 19. The auger of claim18, wherein the smaller diameter is a vertex.
 20. The auger of claim 19,wherein the circular base has a diameter substantially equal to adiameter of a collar to which the auger connects for attaching the augerto a drill stem.